2014 Mental Health Assessment

Youth depression was identified as the top community health problem in our 2014 Community Health Assessment. Please fill out our survey to help us further define how we are going to begin to address this important issue.

Mission

The mission of the health and Human Services, Public Health Department, is to maximize the quality of life across the lifespan by promoting health, protecting the environment, and preventing disease and injury.

Programs

Birth to Three Program

The program is for children ages birth to 36 months. Eligibility is based on a diagnosed condition or developmental delay in one or more areas of development. A team will evaluate your child’s ability to learn, move, see and hear, respond and relate to others, eat dress, and care for daily living needs. We value the family’s primary relationship with their child and work in partnership with the family. We work to enhance the child’s development and support the family’s knowledge, skills and abilities as they interact with and raise their child. Your baby’s relationship with you; the sights, sounds, smells and feelings your baby experiences affect the way your baby’s brain develops. The earlier a child’s developmental delays are discovered, the more opportunities there are for a child to increase skills and abilities. If you have any questions about your child’s development or would like a developmental screening, please call (715)-532-2299 for an appointment.

Communicable Disease Program

Certain communicable diseases are mandated by statute to be reported to Public Health for investigation, control, and prevention of spread among people. A public health nurse, or registered nurse investigates reported communicable diseases, including contact investigations, in an efficient yet confidential manner.

DNR Transient Non-Community Well Program and DATCP Certified Microbiological Water Lab

Under a contract with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Rusk County Public Health Department administers the DNR Transient Non-Community Well Program, which involves testing drinking water and evaluating systems at public facilities with Rusk County. Municipal water is also tested for coliform bacteria at the lab.

Environmental Health Program

A full-time Registered Sanitarian/Environmental Health Specialist is available to respond to complaints, concerns, and questions from the public on topics such as housing, food and drinking water safety, indoor and outdoor air quality, sanitation, hazardous materials, pest activity, and recreation. Abatement orders may be issued by the Health Officer or designee under Rusk County Code Chapter 10: Public Nuisances/ Human Health Hazards. Well water testing is available on a fee-exempt basis for WIC clients, and for investigative purposes. Beaches owned by Rusk County and the City of Ladysmith are sampled weekly during the summer months for the presence of E. coli bacteria in the water. The Registered Sanitarian collaborates with the Rusk County Animal Shelter to investigate animal bite reports and rabies testing. Other programs include West Nile Virus monitoring, Radon education and testing, and tobacco legislation education.

The environmental health program covers investigation and abatement of any environmental exposures that may affect of the health of the entire population, or even a single person. The Health Officer, or designee, following Rusk County Code Chapter 10, investigates human health hazard complaints. A full-time Registered Sanitarian/Environmental Health Specialist is available to respond to concerns and questions from the public on topics such as housing, food and drinking water, indoor and outdoor air quality, sanitation, hazardous materials, pest activity, and recreation. Well water testing is available on a fee-exempt basis for WIC clients, and for investigative purposes. County owned beaches, as well as one beach owned by the City of Ladysmith, are tested weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day for the presence of E. coli bacteria in the water. The Registered Sanitarian collaborates with the Rusk County Animal Shelter to investigate animal bite reports and rabies testing. The Registered Sanitarian also participates in West Nile Virus, and radon monitoring.

Food Safety and Recreational Licensing (FSRL) Full Agent Program

Under the Department of Health Services FSRL Agent Contract, a Registered Sanitarian conducts inspections of restaurants, campgrounds, lodging facilities including bed and breakfasts, public swimming pools and whirlpools, body art establishments, recreational/educational camps, and vending machines. Each facility under the contract is inspected at least once per year, with additional inspections warranted by complaints or changes in ownership or capacity.

Immunization Program

Immunizations are provided free of charge to children ages eighteen and under via the State of Wisconsin Vaccine for Children program. Immunizations are given by appointment. Limited immunizations are available for adults on a fee for service basis.

Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Children participating in the WIC program receive blood lead screenings at ages one and two years. Home inspections may be provided to children whose confirmatory blood lead level is indicative of poisoning.

Maternal Child Health (MCH) Program

This program has, as its general purpose the improvement of the health of all mothers and children. Current program activities include home safety assessments, postpartum assessments, and a child passenger safety (car seat) program.

Oral Health Program

School based fluoride mouth-rinsing programs are evidence-based prevention strategies that prevent dental caries. Students in the Bruce School District, grades 1 through 6, are given the opportunity to participate in a weekly fluoride mouth-rinsing program at no cost to them.

Prenatal Care Coordination (PNCC)

PNCC services are available to Medicaid-eligible women with a high risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. High-risk pregnancies require additional prenatal care services, coordination of services, and follow-up because of medical or non-medical factors that may include psychosocial, behavioral, environmental, or nutritional concerns.

Prevention Program

“Cribs for Kids,” is an evidenced-based safe sleep education program to help reduce the risk of injury and death of infants due to unsafe sleep environments. New, safe, portable cribs are provided when necessary.

Public Health Preparedness Program

Grant funds support activities that strengthen the program’s ability to plan for, and respond to, public health emergencies. The activities stress cooperation between county, regional, and state partners.

Reproductive Health Program

Provides services to individuals (female and male) and couples such as: education, counseling, referrals and financial assistance enabling them to:

Make informed choices and decisions

Develop pregnancy plans

Achieve family planning goals

Prepare for desired future pregnancies and parenthood

School Health Program

Public health currently provides school nursing services to the Bruce School District on a contract basis. These services contribute to the improvement of health outcomes by focusing on health services, health education, and a healthy environment.

Tobacco Control and Prevention Program

The goals of this program are to prevent youth initiation of the use of tobacco products, promote tobacco use cessation, promote statewide smoke-free worksites, implement strategies in support of other tobacco products local policies, and cooperate with compliance investigations at licensed tobacco retail establishments.

Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP)

Provides preventive health screening services to women with little or no health insurance coverage. Well Woman pays for mammograms, Pap tests, certain other health screenings and multiple sclerosis testing for women with high risk signs if multiple sclerosis. To qualify you must be a woman age 45 through 64 with income at or below 250% of federal poverty level.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

This special supplemental nutrition program serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants, and children under the age of five who are at nutritional risk. The Rusk County WIC Registered Dietitian provides breastfeeding education and support, and is a Certified Lactation Specialist. The state WIC program provides the Rusk County WIC Program with manual and electric breast pumps to loan to breastfeeding mothers. Click here for more information on food assistance in Rusk County.